Next year's team

[Bleed Red Blood]

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FB; Bevan Schuable Mathews

HB: Barry James C Bolton

C; Goodes Kirk Kennelly

HF; O'Keefe Hall Davis

FF; O'Loughlin Saddington Doyle

R; Jolly Williams Bolton J

B; Nicks Maxfield Ball Crouch

E; McVeigh Roberts-Thompson Fosdike

[robbieando]

My team, which does have one or two big surprises

B: Matthew Nicks Andrew Schauble Craig Bolton
HB: Leo Barry L. Roberts-Thomson Tadhg Kennelly
C: Jarrad McVeigh Adam Goodes Paul Williams
HF: Ryan O'Keefe Barry Hall Nick Davis
F: Amon Buchanan Stephen Doyle Michael O'Loughlin
R: Jason Ball Jude Bolton Brett Kirk
Int: Darren Jolly Ben Mathews Jared Crouch Paul Bevan
Emg: Nic Fosdike Adam Schneider Stuart Maxfield

First of all, Stuart Maxfield, many of you will notice that I don't have him in the starting 22. Why?? Well despite still being captain and all that I just can't find a place for him. Do I drop a Paul Bevan or Amon Buchanan who did so well last season? Do I drop a Jarrad McVeigh who I believe NEEDS as much gametime in the seniors as he can get? Do I drop a Ball, Doyle or Jolly? Its a tough question and one I just can't answer in favour of our captain.

Other than that I left out both Fosdike and Schneider because, well both need to PROVE their fitness and form before getting a spot in the team. Same goes with Spriggs who doesn't even make the 25. Saddington and Sundqvist don't come into my plans because in Saddo's case its not certain he'll be back in Round 1 so I have ruled him out because of injury and the same goes with Sunny, though he'll need to show some form in Canberra before even getting close to the seniors. Ablett is plain unlucky and Heath James isn't any closer to making the team just because he got re-drafted.

Also none of our rookies make the team, Dempster, Willoughby, Schmidt, but like Schneider and Bevan before them who knows how they will go in the Wizard Cup.

While he don't have a match winning midfielder and our "new" CHB isn't certain of winning the role, picking 22 players to play in Round 1 is near on impossible without upseting some "golden children". Competition for places in the senior team is hot and that could be very helpful to those outside the team. Those in the team will have pressure put upon them which is important.

[footyhead]

Originally posted by robbieando


Also none of our rookies make the team, Dempster, Willoughby, Schmidt, but like Schneider and Bevan before them who knows how they will go in the Wizard Cup.



Competition for places in the senior team is hot and that could be very helpful to those outside the team. Those in the team will have pressure put upon them which is important.

All of the players you have mentioned above are senior list players, not "Rookies".

I agree it is good that there is far more compt' for places in the team now than there were pre- Roos!

[robbieando]

Originally posted by footyhead
All of the players you have mentioned above are senior list players, not "Rookies".

I know that. I mean rookies in the sense they haven't played a game yet.

[Rod_]

Well I think that we all agree we have a little depth .......

Hope we can keep some of these players on the paddock?

That would be nice for a change!

Happy day

Rod_

[Bleed Red Blood]

Originally posted by robbieando
My team, which does have one or two big surprises

B: Matthew Nicks Andrew Schauble Craig Bolton
HB: Leo Barry L. Roberts-Thomson Tadhg Kennelly
C: Jarrad McVeigh Adam Goodes Paul Williams
HF: Ryan O'Keefe Barry Hall Nick Davis
F: Amon Buchanan Stephen Doyle Michael O'Loughlin
R: Jason Ball Jude Bolton Brett Kirk
Int: Darren Jolly Ben Mathews Jared Crouch Paul Bevan
Emg: Nic Fosdike Adam Schneider Stuart Maxfield

First of all, Stuart Maxfield, many of you will notice that I don't have him in the starting 22. Why?? Well despite still being captain and all that I just can't find a place for him. Do I drop a Paul Bevan or Amon Buchanan who did so well last season? Do I drop a Jarrad McVeigh who I believe NEEDS as much gametime in the seniors as he can get? Do I drop a Ball, Doyle or Jolly? Its a tough question and one I just can't answer in favour of our captain.

I just can't see Maxfield being dropped, only reason I have him in my team.

You make some other good points, too, but I think Heath James is a better CHB than LRT.

[liz]

I reckon you have to put the best 22 fit players on the ground, allowing for size balance.

Can't fathom how anyone would think that, on last season's form, Buchanan, McVeigh, Schneider, Bevan, Davis, Nicks would provide better value on the ground than Maxfield.

Of course things could change as the season progresses but it is folly, IMHO, to project improvement onto the younger players or to project a decline to Maxfield due to his age.

[stellation]

Originally posted by liz

Can't fathom how anyone would think that, on last season's form, Buchanan, McVeigh, Schneider, Bevan, Davis, Nicks would provide better value on the ground than Maxfield.

Robbie named Nicky D at HFF, I believe that on last years form he would be of more value at HFF than Maxfield (injuries permitting).

Of course things could change as the season progresses but it is folly, IMHO, to project improvement onto the younger players or to project a decline to Maxfield due to his age.

I am not sure people believe they are projecting so much as observing a decline to Maxfield due to his age. Which is just my observation of others and not their stated opinion of course.

[robbieando]

Originally posted by liz
I reckon you have to put the best 22 fit players on the ground, allowing for size balance.

I did that as best I could, the defence and forward lines choose themselves however with the midfield and bench spots you could throw up many different options and that proves we have depth in the midfield (though not the quailty we would like).

Can't fathom how anyone would think that, on last season's form, Buchanan, McVeigh, Schneider, Bevan, Davis, Nicks would provide better value on the ground than Maxfield.

Easy, Buchanan, Davis, Schneider, Bevan and Nicks all play in positions that Maxfield doesn't play in and therefore playing Maxfield could throw out the balance of my team. Form doesn't come into it that much, except for line ball calls. The only player on your list I would even think of swapping for Maxfield is McVeigh and that because they play the same position and therefore are quite interchangable.

However I decided that McVeigh as our so called bluechip midfielder in his third season NEEDS as much game time as possible and with Maxfield showing the signs of age, I think the time has come to make a decision and I decided that I rather have McVeigh in the team because his upside is far better to the club than Maxfield.

Its tough to make such a call on a club captain and player who has given so much to the club in his time here, but we need to start looking to the future. Still that doesn't mean Maxfield can't produce his best form now and again.

[liz]

Originally posted by robbieando

Easy, Buchanan, Davis, Schneider, Bevan and Nicks all play in positions that Maxfield doesn't play in and therefore playing Maxfield could throw out the balance of my team. Form doesn't come into it that much, except for line ball calls. The only player on your list I would even think of swapping for Maxfield is McVeigh and that because they play the same position and therefore are quite interchangable.

All those players have been touted as contributors to the midfield, which is where Maxfield primarily plays.

I also think Maxfield could play a valuable role across half-back, either on a flank or as a sweeper across the centre.

The likes of Buchanan, Bevan and Schneider start off in pockets because they don't have the fitness or strength to play for more than short bursts in the midfield. Even if they all have wonderful pre-seasons, it is a stretch to expect any of them to be able to contribute for as long or as hard as Maxfield through the centre next season.

If all these players are better options than Maxfield, how did he get to play 24 games in 2004?

Where were all the calls for his retirement at the end of last year? I don't see the point of keeping your 32yo captain on for another year if he is going to spend the year in Canberra.

[robbieando]

Originally posted by liz
All those players have been touted as contributors to the midfield, which is where Maxfield primarily plays.

But in all honesty the players you named are unlikely to spend anywhere near the amount of time in the midfield as Maxfield did/has in past seasons. Those players fill roles elsewhere on the field that are important and can't be filled by Maxfield.

The likes of Buchanan, Bevan and Schneider start off in pockets because they don't have the fitness or strength to play for more than short bursts in the midfield. Even if they all have wonderful pre-seasons, it is a stretch to expect any of them to be able to contribute for as long or as hard as Maxfield through the centre next season.

But I don't expect those players do play for long periods in the midfield. Bevan will split time between the midfield and the defence, Buchanan and Schnieder will spend most of their time time as a crumbing forward. Can Maxfield cover those positions if we leave them out for him?? I doubt it.

If all these players are better options than Maxfield, how did he get to play 24 games in 2004?

Club captaincy might have something to do with it. But then again regardless of that honour he would of played all 24 games anyway. Still I doubt that is a lockdown reason why we should still play him, I question his age mainly and slipping form. He isn't going to get any better now is he. The question is he best now, worth having him in the side?? I would say yes to start the season, but as the season goes on that seems less and less likely.

I also question whether keeping him in the side could be blocking the path of any of our younger players. I worry about a player like McVeigh who entering his 3rd season on our senior list is getting little gametime as it is when to improve he NEEDS to spend far more gametime on the field and not on the bench. Would Roos be willing to swap roles between the two players so McVeigh got the most of the gametime and Maxfield plays off the bench???

Where were all the calls for his retirement at the end of last year? I don't see the point of keeping your 32yo captain on for another year if he is going to spend the year in Canberra.

I wouldn't either and I doubt he'll begin the season there.

As I said, I picked the team I would select and that team is certain to be alot different to the team Roos and the coaching staff has in mind. I want the team to go in with a younger look about it, because I doubt the current team has the ability to win a premiership in 05. Better to blood the kids now while still being a finals team and push on to future seasons with less question marks over the midfield and the CHB position.

Still I would expect to him to be right in Roos plans come Round One barring injuries and the like. I'm just expressing how I think the way the club needs to go selection wise.

[NMWBloods]

Maxfield will definitely be in the 22, not just because he's captain but what he can deliver to the team. I see him as one of the few players in our side who can provide a spark through his sheer effort. I suspect he will start on the ground and then play on and off the bench during the course of each game. This should work quite well as his reduced game time should allow more game time for some of the younger players.

[ScottH]

Impact Player!!

Quality not Quantity

[dread and might]

Originally posted by Mark
Good for you, i think it is Roos that counts tho !

O.......K....... Well why is anyone posting any opinions on the team since none of us are paul roos?

maybe you are annoyed becasue i disagreed with your analysis of fosdike v. buchanan. (you didn't answer my question by the way )

i don't claim to know more than anyone else on this board, in fact, i enjoy learning from others who obviously know a lot more, however.....

i think fosdike will be in the side, because if they didn't believe he could step up to the level they (and we) expect, he would have been traded/ delisted. hopefully this is his year to do that. However; if his inclusion is at the continued expense of a younger player, and he doesn't step up, i will be disappointed.

On the maxfield debate, i think his leadership includes a lot of behind the scenes stuff, including his appetite for training. It would be hard to leave out a captain if he is putting in the effort that inspires others at training. He may start spending more time on the bench, but he has the ability to lift the side with a display of courage or a tough tackle. He also doesn't often waste possessions.

[Mark]

Originally posted by dread and might
O.......K....... Well why is anyone posting any opinions on the team since none of us are paul roos?

maybe you are annoyed becasue i disagreed with your analysis of fosdike v. buchanan. (you didn't answer my question by the way )

i

Sorry was not meant to sound confrontational !

I just meant that Roos has consistenty picked Fosdike in his best 22 whenever he was fit to play ! Which suggests he rates him highly and certainly above players like Monte, Ablett etc. I also hope these guys take another step next year but IMHO Fosdike plays an important match day role with his 'tank' and is ahead on both experience and abilty at this stage.

When was he last fit, hard to say really but struggled virtually all last season and had a poor one as a result, no arguments there.

As for Maxi not getting picked that is ludicrous !